Nikola Jokic celebrated a historic stat line and a win over the Thunder in classic 'Joker' fashion

DENVER — Nikola Jokic had one second left to inbound the ball.

Failing to throw it in before the referee called a five-second count meant Denver would need to stave off a last-second attempt by the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Nuggets were in danger of blowing a game they’d led by as many as 20 points. They couldn’t afford another close loss after falling to the Celtics and Spurs by a combined three points earlier in the week.

Then, when it seemed as if time was almost up, Jokic rifled a one-handed bullet crosscourt to Gary Harris, who launched a three over Russell Westbrook’s outstretched arm. The shot fell through the net, and the final buzzer sounded.

While his teammates rushed back to the locker room to mob each other, Jokic stopped by a corner section of Pepsi Center, unlaced his size 15 Nikes, removed the custom insoles inside, signed them and handed them over to a fan he’d met the week earlier.

“Some guy who is always at our games,” Jokic said. “I met him at Punch Bowl Social. Just a fan of ours. He asked me at that appearance, and I said, ‘I got you next time.'”

What’s the proper way to celebrate a night in which you recorded a triple-double and dished out the game-winning assist? If you’re Jokic, the answer is apparently by upholding a promise you made to a random fan you met at a team social a week ago.

The Nuggets’ 22-year-old Serbian star has his own way of doing things. Improbably, it keeps working.

Jokic recorded his third triple-double of the season in Thursday’s 127-124 win over the Thunder — a 29-point, 13-rebound, 14-assist masterpiece. He was back at center, his natural position, with Mason Plumlee sidelined with a calf strain and dominated as the hub of the wheel for Denver.

After busting out as a star last season, Jokic has encountered some bumps in year three. His shooting percentages have dipped. His defense has been called into question. Overall, his numbers are still been excellent. But the love he was getting his sophomore season as he came out of nowhere has dried up a little bit while expectations have risen.

Then a game like Thursday’s happens, and Jokic throws up a stat line no center has matched in more than two decades.

“I didn’t even know he had a triple-double,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “I don’t look at that stuff. … I wanted to stop the game tonight in the first half when he caught the ball, turned the corner and dunked it. It should have been a national holiday. They should be giving out free hot dogs to everybody.”

Up until that point, Jokic had dunked the ball five times this season. He had just enough room out of the pick and roll to get by Steven Adams for the left-handed flush.

“I’m better at jumping off my right foot,” Jokic said, which is an oddity for a right-handed player. “I don’t know why.”

There isn’t much that’s common about Jokic’s game. He was a “fat point guard” as a kid who grew to be 6-foot-11. He can hardly get more than six inches off the ground but is capable of routinely slapping up triple-doubles. He’s not built like the average NBA superstar, but underneath that soft frame is remarkable skill.

“I saw Gary sliding from the corner. He kind of looked at me,” Jokic said about the game-winning play. “I passed to him, and he made the shot. He was already running back, too (when the ball was in the air). I was like, ‘Yes.'”